Catus (Lot)

Catus ( Occitan: catus ) is a southern French village with 918 inhabitants (as of January 1, 2011 ) in the department of Lot in the Midi-Pyrénées region.

Location

Catus is located on the north bank of the river Vert at an altitude of about 170 meters above sea level. inst in the ancient cultural landscape of Quercy, about 18 km ( driving distance ) north-west of Cahors.

Demographics

In the 19th century the place had always 1200-1700 inhabitants. As a result of the phylloxera crisis in the wine and the mechanization of agriculture has declined, the population has since steadily to their lowest point in the 1960s and 1970s back.

Economy

In skin -Quercy agriculture, which included the wine until the 19th century was, for centuries, used primarily for self catering. After the phylloxera crisis in the second half of the 19th century, the wine industry in the region has been almost entirely abandoned. Today - in addition agriculture, small trade and crafts - the tourism in the form of apartment rentals ( gîtes ) a major role in the economy of the community.

History

Because of the name is thought a Roman or Gallo- Roman origins of the place. In the 11th century a priory, around which developed the village was founded. The Hundred Years' War (1337-1453) and during the Wars of Religion (1562-1598) suffered Church and place heavy destruction; End of the 14th century the priory was even temporarily abandoned. The outbuildings of the monastery were sold during the French Revolution as a national ( Bien national) and largely demolished.

Attractions

• The holy hermit Asterius consecrated former priory is a multiple of modernized three-aisled building of the Middle Ages, its current appearance is essentially the renovation and construction of measures 16-17. Century owes to. The crossing tower still bears Romanesque traits, whereas the nave and the apse ( window tracery, pointed arches ) were renovated in the Gothic style. The medieval chapter house now serves as a vestry and can not be visited. The Prioratsgebäude have been recognized since 1891 in several stages as Monuments historiques.
• The former chapel in the three km north-eastern district of Salvezou is a single- and only zweijochiger construction of the 14th century, in the 16th century in the interior with frescoes (Adam and Eve, Flight into Egypt, falconry, etc.) was fitted. The chapel was classified as a monument historique in 1990.
• The Market Hall (halle aux blés ) is a raised -lying building of the 19th century.
• Parts of some houses in the village date back to the 15th/16th. Century.